ITEM:		INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/STAFF REPORTS
33.	QUARTERLY CARMEL RIVER EROSION PROTECTION AND RESTORATION PROJECTS REPORT
Meeting Date:			January 28, 2010	Budgeted:	N/A
From:			Darby Fuerst	Program/	N/A
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			Larry Hampson	Cost Estimate:	N/A
General Counsel Review: N/A
Committee Recommendation: N/A
CEQA Compliance: N/A

Carmel River Advisory Committee: The Carmel River Advisory Committee met on October 15, 2009 and is scheduled to meet again on January 28, 2010. Final minutes of these meetings will be provided to the MPWMD Board of Directors under Committee Reports in a future Board packet (see Informational Items in monthly Board packets).

State Propositions 84 and 1E Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Grant Program: On December 1, 2009, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), which is administering the IRWM grant program, announced its final decision concerning the Regional Acceptance Process (RAP) for gaining entry into the grant program. The final decision includes a change to the draft recommendations requested by MPWMD to show that the Monterey Peninsula, Carmel Bay, and South Monterey Bay planning region has an adopted IRWM plan. The planning region is now eligible to compete for grant funds allocated to the Central Coast from Proposition 84. DWR is expected to release draft guidelines for Prop. 84 funds in late January or early February 2010.

Carmel River Lagoon and State Beach Management: District staff provided technical updates on river and watershed conditions throughout an unusual fall season that included the highest daily flow on record for the month of October. In addition, District staff worked closely with Monterey County Water Resources Agency and Monterey County Public Works Department to assess the condition of the beach and lagoon prior to carrying out beach management activities to prevent flooding in adjacent low-lying areas. MPWMD also facilitated a meeting of the Carmel River Lagoon Technical Advisory Committee on December 15, 2009 to discuss funding of projects proposed to address flood concerns, use of stormwater and wastewater to augment summer flows, and re-connection of the south arm of the lagoon with the river upstream of Highway 1. The meeting focused on the potential for funding projects from a settlement agreement negotiated between NOAA Fisheries, California American Water, and the California Department of Fish and Game for water diversions from the Carmel River. It quickly became apparent at the meeting that there are several questions and issues to be resolved before project sponsors can receive funds. The schedule and process for disbursement of the funds is currently not known.

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